Outrage From Employers Over HSE Charges Begin To Emerge

As expected, the great British industry bosses, complacent and ignorant of health and safety legislation and responsibility; have responded with outrage over the new HSE charges structure for investigating accidents which cause injury and death in the workplace.

The Fee for Intervention scheme will see the Health and Safety Executive recover costs from companies caught breaking the law with an hourly charge of £124 for HSE inspectors time investigating and taking enforcement action.

First off the block today, 1st October 2012, the day the charging scheme begins; are a number of contractors within the construction industry – and one in which the greatest number of fatalities and injuries outside the Farming industry occurs.

Costs will be recovered where there has been a material breach of health and safety law. A material breach is where a business or organisation has broken the law and the inspector judges it serious enough to notify them in writing.

One firm is quoted by the Construction Enquirer website as saying:

“What world are these people living in? At a time when most contractors and subbies are having to argue over charge out rates of £20 – £45 an hour, here comes your local expert at box ticking charging three or four times that.”

Gordon MacDonald, HSE’s programme director, is quoted as responding:

“It is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right – and not the public purse. Firms who manage workplace risks properly will not pay.”

The comments claiming that the HSE are mere ‘box tickers’ shows the level of ignorance and contempt within the industry and the cavalier attitude and negligent lack of responsibility, many construction workers face.

Meanwhile, the HSE issued last week, a press release reminding bosses of the introduction of the charges starting today:

Under The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, those who break health and safety laws are liable for recovery of HSE's related costs, including, inspection, investigation and taking enforcement action.

The many businesses that comply with their legal obligations will continue to pay nothing.

Detailed guidance for businesses and organisations is available on HSE's website. Developed in consultation with representatives from industry, it explains how the scheme works and includes examples of how it will be applied.

Geoffrey Podger, HSE's Chief Executive, said:

"The most basic safety mistakes in the workplace can devastate lives and result in real costs to industry.
It is right that those who fail to meet their legal obligations should pay HSE's costs rather than the public purse having to do so."

Fee for Intervention provides a further incentive for businesses to manage health and safety effectively and to operate within the law. It should also help level the playing field between those who comply and those who don't.

Employers can find practical advice, tools and case studies for controlling common risks and ensuring compliance with health and safety law on HSE's website

Also, a full guide to the Fee for Intervention scheme is available on HSE's website here

Source: Construction Enquirer / HSE

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